TOPIC Spirit of Jezebel (Revelation 2:18-29) SPEAKER DSP Chua Seng Lee THEME Be Alert and Vigilant DATE 28 & 29 Mar 2020

INTRODUCTION

Why do we need to be alert and vigilant? This is because we are living in the end times. DSP Chua’s sermon is based on Revelation 2:18-29 which was a letter from Jesus to the believers in the city of Thyatira. This city was a crossroads of trade and cultural exchange; networking steeped the city in the practices of idolatry feasts and sexual immorality.

Jesus, the Son of God, stated that He knew the deeds of the church in Thyatira and affirmed them that their latter deeds were better than their former. However, He had one thing against this church - they tolerated the teachings of Jezebel. The Lord gave Jezebel time to repent of her sexual immorality but she refused to. He promised punishment unless they repented. This shows that God is merciful but does not compromise on His justice and righteousness.

This letter serves as a warning to the church. For those who did not practise such wrong teachings however, the Lord placed no burden on them. The Lord instructed these believers to hold fast until He comes. Our Lord promised the faithful the King Himself and His kingdom as their rewards.

THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL AND ITS IMPACT

What is the spirit of Jezebel? The spirit of Jezebel promotes sexual immorality and idolatry. This spirit is not necessarily through a woman. Jezebel is first mentioned in 1 Kings 16:31. Jezebel’s strategies involved intimidation and seduction of God’s people. Men impacted by this spirit were David (2 Sam 11:2), Solomon with his 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:4-5), Ahab with Jezebel (1 King 16:31) and lastly, Herod and Herodias (Matthew 14:8). The ultimate aim of the spirit of Jezebel is to have our character and faith compromised and thereby deny God of worship and pleasure from His creation.

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL?

1) Repent for tolerating the Spirit of Jezebel

Our Lord did not mince His words by pointing out that some Christians in Thyatira knew and tolerated the deep things of Satan. These were the teachings of the Nicolaitans, Antinomianism and Libertine. They promoted idolatry and immorality as well as taught that there were no moral laws God expected Christians to obey and that grace was a license to sin. The teaching of Jezebel is satanic

1 Member’s Copy as it allows sins to continue. It is also very subtle as it creeps into our belief systems without us knowing.

We need to repent if we have been tolerating such teachings as God does not tolerate sin. It matters greatly to God that His people steer clear of evil teachings and disobedience. God is looking for a HOLY and unblemished church.

We need to ask ourselves what sins we have been tolerating and confess to God while focusing on His mercy and grace. We must then move in the right direction by being vigilant. We must guard ourselves by being mindful of what we read, watch, listen, think and do.

For example, constantly watching the Covid-19 pandemic updates may cause fear to consume your thoughts and rob God of your attention thereby making fear your idol. We can observe fear manifesting in so many ways during this pandemic.

An idol is anything that replaces God in your life. God is our Lord, Lover and Leader. Who is truly the Lord/Lover/Leader of your life? What is the treasure in your heart? What do you spend most of your time/resources on? There is a need for us to reflect on who is the lord of our lives. We must rightfully put our Lord Jesus Christ on the throne in our lives.

2) Return to hold fast to what we have

The church of Thyatira was commended for their deeds of love, faith, service, perseverance and discipleship (Rev 2:19).

Likewise, we must live out as the church of Jesus Christ especially now when the world is suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. We should hold fast to the deeds like the church of Thyatira. This is the time we should do more and persevere in doing good. We need to arise in a time such as this to live out the gospel! Church is not a place but the people of God.

We also need to hold fast to discipleship. This means holding fast to our relationships with God, fellow believers and the lost. Connect with God through His Word, worship and prayer, connect with fellow believers in every way possible and connect with the lost through evangelism.

CONCLUSION

The spirit of Jezebel promotes sexual immorality and idolatry. Its ultimate aim is to have our character and faith compromised and thereby deny God of worship and pleasure from His creation. DSP concluded the message by reminding us on how to overcome the spirt of Jezebel. Firstly, we need to repent for tolerating the teachings of Jezebel. These teachings promote immorality and idolatry. Secondly, we must return to hold fast to what we have. These are the deeds of love, faith, service and perseverance. We must also hold fast to deeds of discipleship.

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1. What is the Spirit of Jezebel? How have you witnessed the Spirit of Jezebel in your life?

2. DSP Chua reminded us that idolatry is anything that replaces God as our Lord, Lover and Leader. Share an area of your life where God has been replaced by an idol. Acknowledging this issue, what steps will you take to give God back His rightful place in your life?

3. In our journey as disciples, our relationships with God, fellow believers and the lost are all important. Share practical steps you can take to cultivate each relationship, even in these times of social distancing and minimal face to face contact.

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